STANDARDIZATION OF (31)PHOSPHORUS-NUCLEAR MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY DETERMINATIONS OF HIGH-ENERGY PHOSPHATES IN HUMANS

A procedure is described for standardising the determination of adenos ine 5'-triphosphate and phosphocreatine concentration ([ATP] and [PC], respectively, in absolute arbitrary units) in human muscle by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The individual (31)phosphorus (P-31)-NMR spectra obtained on equal hemispherical tissue volumes (mus cle plus skin and fat) were corrected for the thickness of the skin an d of the subcutaneous fat. The volumes investigated were standardised using an external reference. The procedure described made possible the comparison of high energy phosphate concentrations among different su bjects. It was applied to the assessment of [ATP] and [PC] in four gro ups of sedentary subjects (children, and adults aged 20-35, 35-50 and over 50 years), and in a group of athletes (volleyball players). The [ ATP] and [PC] were not statistically different in the groups investiga ted.